Paper guide device for compact printer

ABSTRACT

A paper guide device for a compact printer which can be varied in its guide width by a simple operation and can accommodate papers having different widths, is disclosed. The device includes: a lower guide frame mounted on the compact printer; an upper guide frame coupled to a front surface of the lower guide frame with a gap therebetween to allow a paper to pass therethrough, which is provided at its rear surface with a pair of guide pieces having a spacing corresponding a width of a first type of paper to guide the first type of paper; and an auxiliary guider detachably fitted between the lower and upper guide frames such that the auxiliary guider is positioned at a location spaced from either of the pair of guide pieces by a distance corresponding to a width of a second type of paper, thereby guiding the second type of paper in conjunction with either guide piece of the guide pieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a paper guide device for acompact printer, and more particularly to a paper guide device for acompact printer which is adapted to allow its guide width to be easilychanged to accommodate papers of different widths.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] In general, a compact printer is used in issuing itemizedreceipts on which names and prices of goods are printed, and comprises aprinter body, a paper supply unit equipped in the printer body, aprinting unit for printing names and prices of goods etc. on papers, aguide device for guiding papers to the printing unit to facilitate aprinting procedure, and a cutting unit for cutting printed papers at acertain place.

[0005] Papers used in compact printers are largely classified into apaper having a width of 2 inches and a paper having a width of 3 inchesaccording to the purpose. The papers for a compact printer are suppliedin rolled form and are rotatably mounted in compact printers to be used.

[0006] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a conventional paperguide device for a compact printer which is adapted to guide a paper toa printing unit.

[0007] As shown in the drawings, the conventional paper guide device iscomprised of a lower guide frame 1 and an upper guide frame 2 which areprovided with a gap existing therebetween to allow a paper to passtheretrough, and securely fastened to each other by screws “S”. In thepaper guide device, a paper is introduced into “A” portion, and thendischarged from “B” portion in the drawings, while maintaining itsapproximately horizontal orientation.

[0008] The upper guide frame 2 comprises a right guider 4, a left guider3 and a center guider 5.

[0009] The right guider 4 is rearwardly protruded at its right end toguide a right side of a paper “P1 or P2”, and is fastened to a rightportion of a front part of the lower guide frame 1 by the screws “S”.

[0010] The left guider 3 is rearwardly protruded at its left end toguide a left side of a paper “P1 or P2”, and is selectively fastened toa left portion or a center portion of the lower guide frame 1 by thescrews “S”. In this case, when the left guider 3 is fastened to the leftportion of the lower guide frame 1, the left guider 3 is spaced from theright guider 4 by a certain distance. On the other hand, when the leftguider 3 is fastened to the center portion of the lower guide frame 1,the left guider 3 comes into direct contact with the right guider 4.

[0011] That is, a distance between the left end of the left guider 3 andthe right end of the right guider 4 is a guide width necessary to snuglyaccommodate a paper. More specifically, when the left guider 3 is heldat the center portion of the lower guide frame 1, a width of 2 inches ismaintained between the left and right guiders. When the left guider 3 isheld at the left portion of the lower guide frame 1, a width of 3 inchesis maintained between the left and right guiders.

[0012] When the spacing between the left guider 3 and the right guider 4has a width of 3 inches, the center guider 5 is interposed between theleft guider 3 and the right guider 4 to serve as a spacer.

[0013] The lower guide frame 1 is provided with threaded holes such thatthe threaded holes are positioned at the right portion of the lowerguide frame 1 on which the right guider 4 is fastened, at the leftportion of the lower guide frame on which the left guider 3 is fastened,and at the center portion of the lower guide frame on which the centerguider 5 is fastened.

[0014] Accordingly, the conventional paper guide device is capable ofaccommodating any of papers having a width of 3 inches and papers havinga width of 2 inches by adjusting the location of the left guider.

[0015] However, such a conventional paper guide device has adisadvantage in that it is cumbersome to adjust a position of the leftguider in accordance with a width of papers to be used.

[0016] More specifically, to adjust a guide width of the paper guidedevice, the screw for the left guider must be first unscrewed, and thenmoved to a desired position and be screwed into one of the threadedholes, thereby an operation of positioning the left guider beingcomplicated. Furthermore, since a large number of components arenecessary to constitute the paper guide device, its assembled conditionis complicated, and its manufacturing process is difficult.

[0017] In addition, since the left guider must be frequently moved in awidthwise direction to obtain a desired guide width, an outer appearanceof frames of the device may be deteriorated due to collision between theleft guider and other components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mindthe above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of thepresent invention is to provide a paper guide device for a compactprinter which is adapted to allow its guide width to be easily changed.

[0019] In order to accomplish the above object, the present inventionprovides a paper guide device for a compact printer, comprising: a lowerguide frame mounted on a portion of the compact printer; an upper guideframe coupled to a front surface of the lower guide frame with a gapexisting therebetween to allow a paper to pass therethrough, and whichis provided at its rear surface with a pair of guide pieces having aspacing corresponding to a width of a first type of paper to guide thefirst type of paper; and an auxiliary guider detachably fitted betweenthe lower and upper guide frames such that the auxiliary guider ispositioned at a location spaced from either of the pair of guide piecesby a distance corresponding to a width of a second type of paper,thereby guiding the second type of paper in conjunction with eitherguide piece of the guide pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0021]FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional paper guide device for acompact printer, in which a paper guide width is set to 3 inches;

[0022]FIG. 2 is a front view of a conventional paper guide device for acompact printer, in which a paper guide width is set to 2 inches;

[0023]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a paper guide device fora compact printer according to the present invention;

[0024]FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front view and side view of the paper guidedevice for a compact printer according to the present invention in anassembled condition;

[0025]FIG. 6 is a front view showing adjustment of a guide width of thepaper guide device according to the present invention; and

[0026]FIGS. 7 and 8 are an exploded perspective view and a front view ofa paper guide device for a compact printer according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] This invention will be described in further detail by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a construction of apaper guide device for a compact printer according to the presentinvention, FIGS. 4 and 5 are a front view and a side view of the paperguide device according to the present invention in an assembledcondition, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the paper guide device in whichits guide width is changed.

[0029] The present invention is related to a paper guide device which isequipped in a compact printer to direct a paper to a printing unit.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the paper guide device for acompact printer according to the present invention comprises a lowerguide frame 10, an upper guide frame 20 which is attached to a frontsurface of the lower guide frame 10 by screws “S” such that between thelower guide frame 10 and the upper guide frame 20 is provided a gap toallow a paper to pass therethrough, and an auxiliary guider 30 which isadapted to be selectively attached between the lower guide frame 10 andthe upper guide frame 20 to define a guide width of the paper guidedevice.

[0031] The lower guide frame 10 and the upper guide frame 20, which arecoupled to face each other, define a guide inlet “A” into which a paperis introduced at their upper sides, and define a guide outlet “B” fromwhich a paper is discharged. A paper discharged from the guide outlet ismaintained in an approximately horizontal position to allow the paper tobe easily printed.

[0032] The lower guide frame 10 is provided at both sides of its frontsurface with a pair of fitting grooves 12, which are spaced from eachother by a distance corresponding a width of a first type of paper “P1”and are extended from an upper end of the lower guide frame to a lowerend of the lower guide frame, to allow a first type of paper “P1” havinga width of 3 inches to pass therebetween. Furthermore, the lower guideframe 10 is provided at its front surface with a vertical retaining hole14 such that the retaining hole 14 is spaced from either of the pair offitting grooves 12 by a distance corresponding to a width of 2 inches ofa second type of paper “P2”, which is smaller than the width of 3 inchesof the first type of paper “P1”. The fitting grooves 12 are verticallyelongated from the upper end to the lower end of the lower guide frame10, and the retaining hole 14 is vertically extended from the upper endof the lower end of the lower guide frame 10 such that the retaininghole 14 is shorter than the fitting grooves 12.

[0033] The lower guide frame 10 is further provided with a pair ofretaining holes 16 and a pair of positioning holes 18 such that theholes 16 and 18 are disposed at positions outwardly adjacent to the pairof fitting grooves 12, and the positioning holes 18 are disposed belowthe retaining holes 16.

[0034] The upper guide frame 20 is provided at both ends of its rearsurface with a pair of guide pieces 22, which are fitted into thefitting grooves 12. The pair of guide pieces 22 defines a spacing of 3inches therebetween to allow the first type of paper “P1” to passtherethrough.

[0035] The upper guide frame 20 is further provided at its upper endwith a pair of holding protrusions 24, which are upwardly protruded atpositions spaced from each other, thereby defining a holding groove 24 atherebetween. That is, the holding protrusions 24 define the holdinggroove 24 a therebetween.

[0036] The upper guide frame 20 is further provided with positioningpins 26 and threaded holes 28, which are disposed at positionscorresponding to the retaining holes 16 and the positioning holes 18 ofthe lower guide frame 10, in which the threaded holes 28 are engagedwith the screws “S”.

[0037] The auxiliary guider 30 includes a slider 32 to be fitted intothe retaining hole 14 in a sliding manner, a hook 34 which is forwardlyprotruded and caught in the holding groove 24 a, and a tension slit 36which is disposed between the slider 32 and the hook 34 and is upwardlyopened to afford elasticity to the auxiliary guider 30.

[0038] Moreover, the auxiliary slider 32 is provided at an upper portionof its rear surface with a hanger protrusion 38 to be engaged to anupper end of the lower guide frame 10, and is provided under the hangerprotrusion 38 with a fitting groove 39 into which a rib defined betweenthe upper end of the lower guide frame 10 and the retaining hole 14 isclosely fitted.

[0039] An assembling operation and functions of the paper guide deviceaccording to the present invention will now be described.

[0040] When it is intended to couple the lower guide frame 10 to theupper guide frame 20, the guide pieces 22 and the positioning pins 26 ofthe upper guide frame 20 are first fitted into the corresponding fittinggrooves 12 and the retaining holes 16 of the lower guide frame 10, andthe screws “S” are inserted and screwed in the threaded holes 28 of theupper guide frame 20 via the positioning holes 18 of the lower guideframe 10.

[0041] The paper guide device according to the present invention, whichis assembled in a manner described above, is used in directing the firsttype of paper “P1” having a width of 3 inches toward a printing unit(not shown) because a distance between the guide pieces 22 of the upperguide frame 20 is 3 inches, as illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 6.

[0042] In this case, a first type of paper “P1”, which is introducedinto the upper guide inlet “A” of the paper guide device and thendischarged from the lower guide outlet “B” of the paper guide device, ismaintained in an approximately horizontal orientation.

[0043] When the paper guide device is intended to guide the second typeof paper “P2” having a width of 2 inches, a guide width of the paperguide device is reduced to a dimension of 2 inches by using theauxiliary guider 30 to snugly accommodate a width of the second type ofpaper.

[0044] More specifically, the auxiliary guider 30 is inserted betweenthe lower guide frame 10 and the upper guide frame 20 such that theslider 32 of the auxiliary guider 30 is fitted in the retaining hole 14of the lower guide frame 10.

[0045] At this time, the slider 32 is easily inserted between the lowerand upper guide frames 10 and 20 while being deformed inwardly at itsupper portion. When the slider 32 reaches the retaining hole 14, theslider 32 is restored to its normal position and thus is closely fittedinto the retaining hole 14, thereby causing the auxiliary guider 30 tobe immobilized.

[0046] At the same time, since the hook 34 of the auxiliary guider 30 isfitted in the holding groove 24 a of the upper guide frame 20, theauxiliary guider 30 is caused to be more securely held by the holdingprotrusions 24.

[0047] Accordingly, since the auxiliary guider 30 is inserted betweenthe lower and upper guide frames and is held therebetween to beimmobilized, the auxiliary guider 30 can afford stable guidance of thesecond type of paper “P2” in conjunction with either of the pair ofguide pieces 22.

[0048] When the auxiliary guider 30 is normally inserted between thelower and upper guide frames 10 and 20, the auxiliary guider 30 cannotbe displaced downwardly by its hook 34 and hanger protrusion 38.

[0049] More specifically, when the auxiliary guider 30 is insertedbetween the lower and upper guide frames 10 and 20, since the hook 34 isengaged with the holding groove 24 a of the upper guide frame 20 and theprotrusion 38 is hung on the upper end of the lower guide frame 10, theauxiliary guider 30 is maintained in its normal fitted position withoutseparation therefrom even though the auxiliary guider 30 is applied withexternal force.

[0050] Furthermore, the auxiliary guider 30 cannot be displaced upwardlybecause an upper end of the slider 32 of the auxiliary guider 30 iscaught by the upper edge of the retaining hole 14.

[0051] When the auxiliary guider 30 is intended to be removed from thelower and upper guide frames 10 and 20, the protrusion 38 of theauxiliary guider 30 is pushed inwardly by a user so that the upper endof the slider 32 is disengaged from the retaining hole 14. Subsequently,the auxiliary guider 30 is pulled upwardly.

[0052] Accordingly, when the auxiliary guider 30 is inserted between thelower and upper guide frames 10 and 20, the paper guide device serves toguide the second type of paper “P2” having a width of 2 inches. On theother hand, when the auxiliary guider 30 is removed from the lower andupper guide frames 10 and 20, the paper device serves to guide the firsttype of paper “P1”. Therefore, the paper guide device according to thepresent invention can accommodate the second type of paper “P2” as wellas the first type of paper “P1”, which are different from each other inwidth.

[0053] In addition, since a guide width of the paper guide device can beeasily changed by a simple operation of attaching and removing theauxiliary guider 30, the number of procedures necessary to change aguide width of the paper guide device can be reduced, and malfunctioningcaused by different widths of papers can be minimized.

[0054] Furthermore, since an operation of changing a guide width of thepaper guide device can be easily and quickly carried out, the paperguide device according to the present invention affords convenience to auser, thereby having a competitive edge over other products.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a paper guide deviceaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] This embodiment will now be described only in terms of aspectsdifferent from the above embodiment with reference to the drawings. Inthis embodiment, an auxiliary guider 130 is shaped to have a width ofabout 1 inch. In accordance with the enlargement of a width of theauxiliary guider 130, a retaining hole 114 and a holding groove 124 aare also enlarged in width.

[0057] That is, the retaining hole 114 is also shaped to have a width of1 inch, and the holding groove 124 a is defined by either of guidepieces 122 and one holding protrusion 124.

[0058] The paper guide device according to this embodiment also has thesame functions as the paper guide device of the above embodiment.

[0059] As such, a width of the auxiliary guider is not limited to acertain value but may be changed to have various widths.

[0060] Although the embodiments of the present invention are applied forpapers having widths of 3 inches and 2 inches, a width of papers is notlimited to the specific values and can have another width in accordancewith its application. In this case, the auxiliary guider can be adjustedin its position depending on a width of papers.

[0061] As described above, the present invention provides a paper guidedevice for a compact printer which is adapted to be varied in a guidewidth by a simple operation of attaching and removing an auxiliaryguider. Accordingly, an operation of changing a guide width of the paperguide device can be facilitated. Furthermore, since one paper guidedevice can accommodate papers having different widths, economicefficiency of the product is excellent.

[0062] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paper guide device for a compact printer,comprising: a lower guide frame mounted on the compact printer; an upperguide frame coupled to a front surface of the lower guide frame with agap existing therebetween to allow a paper to pass therethrough, andwhich is provided at its rear surface with a pair of guide pieces havinga spacing corresponding to a width of a first type of paper to guide thefirst type of paper; and an auxiliary guider detachably fitted betweenthe lower and upper guide frames such that the auxiliary guider ispositioned at a location spaced from either of the pair of guide piecesby a distance corresponding to a width of a second type of paper,thereby guiding the second type of paper in conjunction with eitherguide piece of the guide pieces.
 2. The paper guide device as set forthin claim 1, in which the lower guide frame is provided at its frontsurface with a pair of fitting grooves into which the pair of guidepieces are partially fitted, and is provided with a vertical retaininghole at a position between the pair of fitting grooves, the upper guideframe being provided with a pair of holding protrusions defining aholding groove therebetween at a position of its upper end correspondingto the retaining hole, the auxiliary guider including a slider to befitted into the retaining hole in a sliding manner, a hook formed abovethe slider and protruded forwardly which is adapted to be fitted intothe holding groove, and a tension slit formed between the slider and thehook to afford elasticity to the auxiliary guider.
 3. The paper guidedevice as set forth in claim 2, in which the auxiliary guider isprovided at an upper end of its rear surface with a hanger protrusion,which is hung on an upper end of the lower guide frame.
 4. The paperguide device as set forth in claim 1 or 2, in which the first type ofpaper has a width of 3 inches, and the second type of paper has a widthof 2 inches.
 5. The paper guide device as set forth in claim 1, in whichthe lower and upper guide frames are coupled to each other by screws. 6.The paper guide device as set forth in claim 1, in which the lower guideframe is provided at its front surface with a vertical retaining holeinto which the auxiliary guider is fitted, the upper guide frame beingprovided with a protrusion at a position of its upper end correspondingto an inner side of the retaining hole, which defines a holding groovein conjunction with the other guide piece of the pair of guide pieces,the auxiliary guider including a slider to be fitted into the retaininghole in a sliding manner, a hook formed above the slider and protrudedforwardly which is adapted to be fitted into the holding groove, and atension slit formed between the slider and the hook to afford elasticityto the auxiliary guider.
 7. A paper guide device for a compact printer,comprising: a lower guide frame mounted on the compact printer, which isprovided at it front surface with a pair of vertical fitting grooveshaving a spacing therebetween to allow a first type of paper to passtherethrough, and is provided between the pair of fitting grooves with avertical retaining hole, which is spaced from either of the pair offitting grooves by a distance corresponding to a width of a second typeof paper smaller than a width of a first type of paper; an upper guideframe coupled to a front surface of the lower guide frame with a gapexisting therebetween to allow a paper to pass therethrough, which isprovided at both sides of its rear surface with a pair of guide piecesto be fitted into the fitting grooves, and which is provided with a pairof holding protrusions defining a holding groove therebetween at aposition of its upper end corresponding to the retaining hole; and anauxiliary guider including a slider to be fitted into the retaining holein a sliding manner, a hook formed above the slider and protrudedforwardly which is adapted to be fitted into the holding groove, atension slit formed between the slider and the hook to afford elasticityto the auxiliary guider, and a hanger protrusion provided at an upperend of the auxiliary guider and hung on an upper end of the lower guideframe.
 8. The paper guide device as set forth in claim 7, in which thefirst type of paper has a width of 3 inches, and the second type ofpaper has a width of 2 inches.
 9. The paper guide device as set forth inclaim 7, in which the lower and upper guide frames are coupled to eachother by screws.